Hospitals have seen huge advancements over the past few decades with their being new technology that has led to less invasive procedures and improved internal management, as everything is more streamlined. Even though this is the case, there seems to be increasing wait times in a lot of hospitals, especially public ones owned by the NHS in the UK where there are often long waits.
For elective (planned) treatment, waits are measured in weeks, with some areas exceeding 18 weeks and averages for treatments like Orthopaedics being over 36 weeks. In 2023/24, only 72% of patients in England were seen within four hours when it came to A&E, a significant drop from the 95% target. Some patients have even experienced waits of over 60 hours in UK A&E departments, which is around 3 days!
High patient demand, a shortage of healthcare staff and inefficient patient management systems seem to be the cause of this. This issue affects both emergency departments and scheduled appointments. We’ll explore this in more detail throughout this article.
Key Reasons for Long Wait Times
Staff Shortages
The lack of qualified healthcare professionals has been one of the main reasons for the long wait times, especially in the NHS. When there aren’t enough people to process patients, conduct tests and provide treatment, there will then be a high build up of patients and cause wait times to increase. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this issue, leading to burnout and a significant number of staff leaving the profession.
High Patient Volume
Public hospitals are often overwhelmed with patients, due to it being free healthcare that caters to everyone. This includes both genuine emergencies and non-urgent cases that could be handled in other settings. When these facilities are at capacity, wait times naturally increase for everyone and create a backlog that is hard to manage.
Lack of Bed Space
Patients who have been treated in the emergency room often have to wait for a bed on a ward before they can be officially admitted, which is what takes the most time. This from the emergency department slows down the entire system, preventing new patients from being seen promptly. Adding more beds can be difficult, as there is not enough space to add them.
Inefficient Systems
Many hospitals still use outdated patient management systems despite the being new technology to use. Poor coordination between different departments can add significant delays and lead to medical negligence. For example, a doctor might be ready to see a patient, but they are still waiting for test results so can’t offer any relevant advice. If you’ve been a victim of any medical negligence, Been Let Down can help you potentially receive compensation.
What Can Be Done to Improve Wait Times
Increase Doctor Numbers
To effectively increase staffing levels, Governments and healthcare organisations need to collaborate to make a career in healthcare more appealing. This begins with investing in educational pathways, such as providing scholarships or grants for aspiring medical and nursing students to reduce the financial burden of their training.
The creation of supportive work environments that encourage professionals to stay in the field long-term would also help with doctors numbers. This includes offering competitive salaries and benefits that reflect the demanding nature of the job, as well as establishing clear career progression pathways. By showing a commitment to their professional growth, healthcare systems can build a more loyal and resilient workforce.
Improve Patient Triage
An effective triage system will help with managing patient flow and ensuring that those with the most urgent needs receive immediate attention. In emergency departments, this is typically the first step a patient encounters. A trained and experienced healthcare professional assesses each patient’s condition upon arrival. They classify the patient into different categories, so there’ll be one for life-threatening conditions like a heart attack and other for less severe issues like a sprained ankle.
This process prevents a critical patient from waiting in the queue behind someone with a minor ailment. It helps doctors allocate their time and resources efficiently, saving lives and improving overall patient outcomes.
Modernise Technology
Hospitals can create a more streamlined workflow with the use of technologies like Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems. These allow all departments to access a patient’s complete medical history in real-time. This seamless information flow eliminates administrative delays caused by manual data entry and searching for physical files, ensuring that staff have instant access to critical information like test results, medical imagery and prescription history.
By reducing the time spent on administrative tasks, staff can dedicate more attention to direct patient care. This can shorten wait times and improve the overall quality and safety of hospital services.
Promote Alternative Care Options
Many people who go to the emergency room for minor issues, like colds, sprains or earaches, could receive faster and more appropriate care from a General Practitioner (GP) or through telehealth services. Raising awareness through public health campaigns, hospitals and health authorities can educate patients on the correct people to see, so they aren’t clogging up unnecessary waiting rooms. Those waiting for dental implants, for example, will go to private hospitals to improve the speed of the procedure wait time.
This can free up emergency department staff to focus on critical cases and provides the patient with a better experience, as they can often be seen quickly in a non-emergency setting. Promoting these alternatives helps to balance the healthcare system’s workload and ensures that the right care is provided at the right time.
Bed Management Solutions
Hospitals can get better bed management solutions to help prevent them running out of beds for patients that need them. This includes doctors, nurses and social workers working together from the moment a patient is admitted to create a clear discharge plan. This seamless process not only improves the patient experience but also ensures that beds are turned over efficiently, allowing the emergency department to admit new patients.
There have been approved plans for many hospitals to start expanding across the UK, as there isn’t enough space for everyone to receive beds quickly. This will help with any backlogs of patients and should shorten wait times.
Conclusion
Fixing hospital wait times requires more than a simple solution. It’s about a combination of addressing staff shortages, managing patient flow better and using modern technology. Focusing on these key areas can help hospitals start to reduce wait times and provide better care for all patients in both public and private healthcare.